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hopeful traveller wrote:This IS NOT true about Friday 29th as I went on one today whilst practising my Preston Road double-backs.

Yes it was true.

The last scheduled A Stock was on the 29th. They remain available for use (7 trains) if an S Stock isn't available.

My understanding is that 7 sets of A stock remain but are not assigned duties so they could appear anywhere they will finally disappear after the Olympics. As it stands 54 S stock have been delivered which means there are now more trains than that needed for peak (50 trains PM peak) A stock will only be used where there is a train shortage.

On a slightly related note (in that it concerns trains to be scrapped), there is a group of people who have been actively working towards the day when the HSTs are finally replaced. They intend to buy a complete set and use it for heritage purposes.

There should be a similar group for tube trains, although as the A-Stock can only run on the LU network under its own power, it would probably be LU themselves who would deal with this. My guess is they're not too bothered about preserving one.

Well they have selected and kept for preservation a 67-stock from the Vic and and A-stock from the Met in the last two years.

As they should. At least one of everything should be kept for historical purposes.

They probably wouldn't be able to run an HST at 125mph for posterity, sadly.

I think its only steam that is restricted to a max of 75mph. I have been on a Deltic tour up the east coast where it was allowed to run at 100mph.

Starkey7 wrote:They probably wouldn't be able to run an HST at 125mph for posterity, sadly.

Why would they not be able to run it at 125?

Preserved railways rarely have sections that are higher than 20mph.

Starkey7 wrote:Preserved railways rarely have sections that are higher than 20mph.

But it would likely end up being used on the mainline for railtours, as many preserved locomotives are.

That is correct - they are aiming to get it certified for mainline use.

Having said that, when they "electrify" the Western region, it won't all be electrified. Most of the south west will require diesel trains, so the HSTs will still be going for a while yet, subject to a major overhaul of internal parts to make them last a bit longer.

If the preservation group obtain an HST before they are entirely withdrawn, then they will be able to run it on the main line, so long as they maintain it to the standard required.

I'd hope that they restore it to the original BR livery (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... rfield.jpg) personally.

That's Clay Cross Junction I believe.

Just seen two A Stock cars on low loaders going north up the A41, between Watford and Hemel Heapstead!

MylesHSG wrote:Just seen two A Stock cars on low loaders going north up the A41, between Watford and Hemel Heapstead!

On their way to Rotherham ...